Maverick Heart

Wild Cow Ranch #1

by Natalie Bright, Denise F. McAllister

FROM HORSE SHOWING IN GEORGIA TO RIDING THE RANGE IN TEXAS – A TALE OF COURAGE AND FINDING FAITH.
Carli Jameson is used to being on her own – abandoned by her mother as an infant – all she’s ever wanted is to feel like she belongs. She has had no choice except to be strong and independent, but now, can she learn to trust God to be her partner?

Georgia girl, Carli Jameson, inherits a Texas cattle ranch from grandparents she never knew. After much thought, she makes the courageous decision to pack up her life and move to Texas to run the ranch. She forges ahead into a new life filled with uncertainty and along the way discovers a ranching community that becomes the family she never had.

Can a fresh start erase the troubles of her past?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Westerns

272 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2021

About the author

Author. Blogger. Speaker. Natalie writes a wide range of stories that interest and inspire her, and hopefully others. True stories about rescue horses for kids, history of Texas and ranching, authentic chuck wagon cooking, and inspirational women's fiction. She blogs at Prairie Purview about the history and people of the Texas Panhandle. Her photography features Texas sunsets and ranch scenes, and can be seen on Instagram @natsgrams

Reviews

[Jane Botkin]

Admittedly, I am not usually a fiction reader, especially narratives that involves romance of any kind, unless you count some classics that I once taught—Tess of D’Urberville, Madame Bovary, The Scarlet Letter. Clearly, my reading preferences in fiction, if I read fiction, tend to be dark within a historical setting. But when I was asked to review Maverick Heart, a romantic fiction that is light and uplifting, I gave it a try. As it turned out, I read the book in two sittings, not wanting to put it down!

Maverick Heart is the first of three novels in the Wild Cow Ranch series by authors Natalie Bright and Denise F. McAllister, who combine their diverse backgrounds and vast experiences to create this fun read. The tale begins in Georgia but, after a pair of startling events, culminates in the Texas Panhandle. Well, I am a Panhandle girl, born and bred, and I felt home with their descriptions. First point for Maverick Heart!

Second, horses play a major role in a plot narrative that twists and turns within a crooked weave that deliberately leaves a few loose threads, ready to be pulled into a second book. Women and girls generally love anything equine. I am no exception, even insisting on the purchase of a big sorrel with white stockings because he looked like John Wayne’s usual mount. A particularly poignant event involving a horse in Maverick Heart nearly brought me to tears. Score point two.

Most importantly, the tale surrounding a young woman, who begins a trail of self-discovery, is inspirational, even spiritual, but realistic. This in itself is refreshing and a win for Bright and McAllister. As for me, I’m already looking forward to Book 2.

[Randi Samuelson-Brown]

This is a lovely book - uplifting and entertaining with horses and a Texas ranch setting! The Christian message is nicely woven in the fabric of the story, and I would say there is something in this read for everyone. There are tarnished reputations, fresh starts, nice people, fairly rotten people and a wonderful cast of characters. Ultimately, it is a story about dealing with the unexpected, and finding one's place in the world. Wholesome and the pages turn quickly! I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Harmony]

This book was such a massive disappointment. I was excited to read it based off the description and reviews. So excited that I moved it to the top of my 10 allowed (at one time) Kindle Unlimited downloads and read it first.

Nowhere in the description does it state that this is a series about the same MC. I thought it was like other books of this nature where a new MC appeared in the next book. Due to this being a continuing series about the same MC, nothing really happens in this book. If I had known, I would have either avoided this book or been prepared for it. There is no real resolution at the end.

As it was, I didn't know and this book rambled. The author took forever to get to a point. Pages and pages were used to describe the landscape. My eyes started to glaze over in boredom at one point.

Then we get to the love interest, Lank. What a freaking jerk! He asks the female MC, Carlie, out on a date and then proceeds to ditch her to flirt with another woman. He then has the nerve to get mad at her when she finds somebody else to take her home. After he ditched her! This guy is a real winner. I couldn't warm up to him after that.

I liked the female MC, Carlie. She is well-developed and I wanted good things for her in her book life. Those good things do not include the man-whore, Lank.

At 65%, I just wanted this book to be over. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters. I actively disliked Lank. I was bored with the sweeping descriptions of everything. I wanted more dialogue and more action and a resolution.... to something.... anything.

Finally, this did not feel like a Christian book. It felt like a confused book. A book that wasn't sure of it's voice. There is potential in the writing and I may check out other books from this author.

[J.E. Grace]

Carli Jamison, caught between her current partnership in her equine center in Georgia, finds out she is the owner of a cattle ranch in Texas. With Carli's past of no family, she now finds herself at her grandparent's ranch after they died.

Carli's character deals with issues of trust, never depending on God, but used to taking care of things on her own, she meets Lola and Buck who have a strong faith in God.

I love how her character grows throughout the story and finally learns to seek God's help in her decision on what life she should choose. The story is heart-wrenching as Carli struggles to accept her new surroundings and responsibilities at the ranch and deciding to trust her new family. The story is inspirational and uplifting and I can't wait to read more of the adventures at the Wild Cow Ranch.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily choose to review it.

[Rachel Santino]

It’s been a long time since I read a book like this. I used to ride horses and I found myself relating to the protagonist, Carli, from the get-go. She’s an orphan in her late twenties who suddenly finds herself the sole heir to her long-lost family’s working cattle ranch in Texas. She constantly questions what she wants to do. Does she continue to live in Georgia and fight to keep her struggling equine business intact? Or move to the ranch in Texas, where she feels like an outsider and is constantly reminded of the lifelong heartache and loss of never having known her family? She just wants to belong somewhere. It seems like an easy decision, but Carli is complicated. I understood her trust issues and her yearning to be loved is believable. I can’t wait to read what happens next in this series.

[Sandra Whittiker]

Maverick Heart: A Christian Contemporary Western Do.and Series (Wild Cow Ranch

Carli wanted to belong somewhere , with someone, someone who really cared . The only true love in her life was her horse or just horse in general . Was that too much to ask? She had a few people that she could call friends but life for them would just going on if suddenly she left, but maybe this time she was headed out on the path to give her the answers to all the questions she has had in her life. Great 👍Read!!!!

[Heidi Thomas]

A great story of a young woman's dreams: how one dream can shatter but another can take its place. A loner who realizes the value of working in unison for the ultimate goal. An equestrian competitor finds working cattle on the back of a western horse additive, not like riding the show ring trying to look the perfect part. I'm impressed with the successful collaboration of two authors in creating this enjoyable story.

[Dan Colee]

A summary of a broken and a harden heart, and a slow path to discover.

A well written story of a girl who felt alone and only person she could depend on was herself. Her journey was tough, but with Gods help and help from people she didn't know or trust at first. Strong characters and very interesting ones makes for a good read.
Loved the story. It's amazing how things can change if we are smart enough to make go choices and a little FAITH.

[viva]

Dear author, thank you for the opportunity to enjoy a peek in your mind's workings.

Carli is young woman to whom life is throwing many, many challenges. And she is trying to cope, at some moments she is doing the right thing, but at some others - her thinking is way off. But she is doing her best. Although her ideas about good men is definitely way off, I hope in next books she will find a better one.

I was given this review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Cassie]

I read a few other reviews and was beginning to think I had read a different book; glad to know someone else experienced it the same. (See Harmony's review for a thorough review. This would have been my reply to her)

I also thought the characters were very cliche; while this is expected to some extent is the romance genre, they were just so poorly done.
Buck and Lola were the best thing in this book.

[Kathleen]

Maverick Heart

I don't know how to write a book but I do know I love to read and you are amazing. I have something to say that I can't on Facebook if you're in Atlanta, Ga. Come see me at Buckhead Signature Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation Care which I hate but I have no where else I go. My real name is Kathleen Ryan but in the real world I go as Kit Ryan

[Cindy Stevens]

Woderful

I very much enjoyed this.im always looking for a great cowboy story. Not a religious person it wasn't over top and it's always refreshing to find a love story with a great plot without being over bearing chapter after chapter of sex

[Michele Lawson Kuck]

I enjoyed this book. Although at times I found I wonted to yell at the book. While I enjoyed it I found the characters a bit weak. An that frustrated me. I think what simply drove me to like for this book was the Bible Lessons in it. If not for that I don't think there would be a good book here.

[Julie]

Story is great! The writing is choppy, hard to follow the characters movements and needs polish. Still want to see what happens to the character so I'll be finishing the series (and hoping the writing and editing gets better).

[Kathy Brickert]

Great story!

A sweet tale of coming home, even when you don't realize it! Carl I has always felt alone until she inherits a ranch from grandparents she never even knew about! Great read!

[Karen]

Beautiful, heartwarming story from two new-to-me authors. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and exploring more books from these two authors. I enjoyed how they brought all the characters to life (including the animals) and made me feel like I was on the ranch working with them.

[Darlene]

Pick it up quick! Ya gotta know what's coming next!
A very easy and good read!
Although there were times I wanted to say, "seriously"?!?!?!
But, capturing us is anticipation - you made us wait.
Great tactic!
Thank you so much!

[Mariah]

great book

I usually do not read these types of books, but I happened to stumble upon it searching for a new book to read. I am excited to continue reading the series and watch the story unfold.

[Betty]

Looking to belong

Love the characters in this book. They are well developed ,especially Carli. The plot is well thought out and developed, keeps you reading into the night.

[nelson shinn]

Good

This is the first book I have read by these authors and I found it enjoyable. The characters had problems that could happen to anyone. A enjoyable easy read.

[Pam McCallister]

Great book

[pollymuz]

Audiobook. A sweet story with Carli trying to find her place in the world.

[Vicki K. Kirby]

Ama

This book lets the readers know the importance of belonging to a family. I also it deals with trust and abandonment issues and how to overcome them.

[Karen Fjeseth-Sickler]

I’m trying not to finish too fast because I don’t have the next one! This book is great!! I enjoy the characters and all their roles!

[Sequoyah Branham]

Maverick Heart is a very rich book, with characters I got behind quickly. Carly finds out she has a ranch in Texas just as there’s not a whole lot more she can loose in Georgia.
This book didn’t wasn’t as deeply romance as I was expecting from what I had heard about it. While I was ready for a romance and wouldn’t think any less of the story if it was more heavily that way, I enjoyed romance as a background thread.
The authors were very true to the horse world and created great word pictures of it.

[J]

Listened on Chirp while reading on KU.

Positives: I thought the authors captured life on a working cattle ranch in a fairly realistic manner. (I’m a fourth generation cattle rancher). Most of the so-called cowboy romances I’ve read before are clueless about ranch/cowboy culture. Reading about the Fall weaning, ‘neighboring’, and more, made reading this book feel like home to me.

Negatives: 1) Calling a dogie calf (one week old, mama cow died) a maverick. An unbranded calf is designated a maverick AFTER it has escaped the Spring branding. I understand why the authors took literary license with the term, but it bugged me, nevertheless. Ironically, the little dogie did escape the cutting and branding, thanks to his soft-hearted new owner. 2) The editor of the book missed several errors. Too many errors interrupts my concentration when I’m reading. 3) The MC owned a house, a business (two, actually), a horse, a truck—but “it didn’t make any sense” to her, over and over and over again. Give me a break. Find new descriptors. 4) I like Christian content, but even I felt this book got too preachy sometimes.

For now, I’m going to keep riding for the brand for this ranch romance series. It’s refreshing to read something this realistic.

[Kelly-Ann ~ Sassy Bookish Mama]

This story is one of new beginnings and this was the case for Carli Jamison. We follow Carli who has been abandoned as a child and has no idea who her father is. She deals with issues of trust. She is used to doing things on her own and doesn't require help from anyone. She has a hard time depending on God but encounters Lola and Buck who are very strong in their faith and guide her in the right path.

I have to admit I wasn't sure about her character at first. She seems very immature and I wasn't quite sure if the story was about an adult or an older teenager. As the story continues you can tell that she is after all an adult but it took me a while to get into her character because of the things she worried and focused on like her "boyfriend" just seemed like something you would do at a younger age. She did have some growth throughout the story which redeemed her in my mind.

Overall I thought the story was good. It was my first by these authors. I think young adults and people that absolutely love horses will enjoy this story.

I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Ashley Callahan]

I grew up riding horses with Denise at a western show barn. It was so fun to read how she incorporated her knowledge and love of horses into her book—sharing familiar places in Georgia, and seeing names of horses I used to know as inspiration for her fictional ones. It’s a delightful, easy read that I found to be a welcome escape into the west and into a world any young lover of horses has dreamt of living at one time or another. I’m excited to start the next book in the series.

[Frank]

This is a neat story, so well written and its awfully close to a 5 star book. Carli Jamseon learns she's inheirted a ranch neqar Amarillo, Texas. She goes ther to check it out and decides to stay for a time. Not only does she fall in love with the ranch but the people also.

[Robert C. smith]

A Very Enjoyable Heart-Tugging Suspenseful Tale!
These two authors hit on just the right points to get this tale off to a page-turning start that gained speed to the end! Great story with very realistic characters!